Getting fed up with people being too thick to navigate the site, so from now on new images / information shall be posted here first. They will be left here for a period of time and then moved into appropriate sub-pages.
Here is an interesting statistic / fact, well interesting to us anyway. Since 2009, we have had in excess of 550,000 vists to the web site. Imagine that. Simply the best website around.
Interesting observation from the recent Tenants sporting sale. Taxidermy that was the ex-property of Maidstone Council being sold and no doubt those badly needed funds being returned to the public purse. We applaud this undertaking and shall seek to ensure that this happens more often on a regular basis despite the decision "being a good one". Maidstone shall receive around £2000, which is minor considering the amount that Sefton Council gave away, which was way in excess of £150,000. Still I am sure it is saved for the nation.
Ringed Plover.
Ringed Plover in detail.
Peregrine Falcon by Henry Shaw.
Snowy Owl by Cullingford.
New to the site and not been seen before. Peter Spicer and Sons taxidermy. Both birds shot by W.H.Johnston in the Cotswolds. More detailed images below.
Little Bustard by Peter Spicer and Sons Shot by W.H.Johnston Glebe farm Turkdean in the Cotswolds 1946.
Common Quail by Peter Spicer and Sons Shot by W.H.Johnston Glebe farm Turkdean in the Cotswolds 1943.
Large and impressive case of New Zealand birds collected in 1886. The Taxidermist in question was Charles Thorpe of Croydon. Many thanks to Adrian Johnston for donating the image. You will see from the description on the case that a significant number are now extinct. Where is this case now?
Large and impressive case of New Zealand birds collected in 1886.Many thanks to Adrian Johnston for donating the image. You will see from the description on the case that a significant number are now extinct. Where is this case now?
More detailed description of who collected to specimens, where and when they were obtained.
Impressive Indian wall hangings depicting both Mugger Crocodiles and Ganges Gharials
Impressive Indian wall hangings depicting both Mugger Crocodiles and Ganges Gharials
Impressive Indian wall hangings depicting both Mugger Crocodiles and Ganges Gharials
Impressive Indian wall hangings, here we have a Hawksbill Turtle shell
Not strictly taxidermy but, worthy of note from authorities in the field of natural history /zoo-ology. Errol Fuller and Sir David Attenborough. From a recent conversation with Errol it was stated that a mere 57,000 books have been sold since its launch. Now I am sure that this does not measure up to book sales of taxidermy publications (wink) but a good show nevertheless.
William Ashburton Macleay (1823-1892), the Ashburton referring to Lord
Ashburton who owned the Rosehall estate when he was born. He became established in
Inverness in 1854, when he advertised that he was now "Successor to Lewis Dunbar,
Bird-stuffer, &c., 80, Church Street, Inverness."His father was William Macleay
(c.1777-1869), the head gamekeeper at Rosehall.His son, who continued the business,
was William Macleay (1864-1932). We beleive given the research undertaken and the other information / images that we have that this is, William Macleay (1864-1932) the son. For those with an eye and who actually do taxidermy rather than merely commenting about it, there are clues in the larger version of this image.
Eurasian Jay by yours truly.
Barn Owl by yours truly. For years I used to think this was some black art and the victorian junk was the best option. Not any more, its easy really. Also of interest and amusement, well to me anyway is the rash of books on this subject, non of which have been penned by taxidermist themselves in recent years. I happen to like the way this turned out. DIY, cannot beat it.
Barn Owl from Army & Navy store, which typically means Rowland Ward.
Marsh Harrier from Army & Navy store, which typically means Rowland Ward.
Whimbrel from Army & Navy store, which typically means Rowland Ward.
Bar tailed Godwit from Army & Navy store, which typically means Rowland Ward.
Black Tern from Army & Navy store, which typically means Rowland Ward.
Nightjar from Army & Navy store, which typically means Rowland Ward.
Scaup ducks from Army & Navy store, which typically means Rowland Ward.
Bittern from Army & Navy store, which typically means Rowland Ward.
Female Capercaille by Rowland Ward.
Hoopoe by TE Gunn.
New Taxidermy book by Alexis Turner, to be launched in May this year. Having spoken to Alexis today there has been a fantastic response to this punblication even prior to launch. How many books can be written on this subject??????. It appears still more to come. This book has got the balance right being image rich (over 300 images to peruse) and of superb quality which is reflected in some 30,000 copies already been reserved. Another example of how to do a publication properly. Add that to the 57,000 sold by Errol Fuller and well................
Barn Owl, by yours truly.
Puffin in wall mounted dome by Gardner.
Long Eared Owls by Hope.
Curatorial roles saved in face of restructureTwo specialist curatorial roles at Kendal Museum have been saved from redundancy despite councillors approving a proposed restructure. See link below.
"Kendal College, which took over the management of the museum from South Lakeland District Council in 2009, earmarked the two part-time posts – a curator with responsibility for the archaeology and social history collections, and the natural history curator – for redundancy.
But a new part-time post of curator/manager will now be created. The college said the move would allow the museum to extend its opening hours from four days a week to five.
A spokesman for Kendal College said the new role would “consolidate the responsibilities necessary for the museum to continue its progress towards sustainability and to provide a better and more educational visitor experience”.
Councillors approved the restructure, but the curators proposed that one would take on the role of curator/manager and the other take a part-time position in a curatorial capacity for one afternoon a week.
Kendal College said this proposal had been accepted. Unison, the public services union, had previously criticised the redundancies as unnecessary in light of a six-year grant from South Lakeland District Council that covered staffing costs."
Now the natural history collection is of national / regional importance and therefore could be under threat. What is interesting is the lack of support from the Local Councillors, and I quote "despite councillors approving a proposed restructure". Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, so the councillors wanted the staff cuts??? Hardly a ringing endorsement is it. Anyway it is the collections that are important at the end of the day
Goshawk with Jay prey.
Attractive watercolour of a European Grey Heron.
Ichthyosaurs fossil by yours truly. Took 4 days to get the age right on what is basically a fantastic copy. The completed item is just under 7 feet long. Got bored of taxidermy and thought I'd try something a little bigger.
Some observations by ET Booth in his own hand.
Braznore's log book with specimens and return dates.
Yellow Wagtail.
Case of Stoats with Blackbird prey by Peter Spicer. Restoration clearly required.
Cased Nightingale.
Cased Robin.
Barn Owl, work in progess.
Female Widgeon by yours truly.
Black Tailed Godwit, nearly completed.
Lesser Black Backed Gulls with egg, nearly completed.
Blue Tit, nearly completed.
Red Grouse in moorland scene,completed.
Stoat with Great Tit prey in a winter scene, nearly completed picture-frame case.
Black winged Peacock by yours truly. My first and certainly my last peacock. For those with the ability to tackle such items will appreciate why.
Black winged Peacock by yours truly.
Kookaburras (genus Dacelo) finally gets some groundwork. Just need to flood the bottom of the groundwork with clear resin and it can be cased. Wonderful bird superby done and part of my personal collection. Not for sale.
European Sparrowhawk by Peter Spicer.
European Grey Heron and Water Rail by TE Gunn of Norwich.
Bearded Tit by AJ Armitstead. Part of a larger case of nest and eggs.
Martins by AJ Armitstead.
Black winged Stilt by me. Bird placed in 20 inch victorian dome. Lovely specimen nicely mounted. As I have said before taxidermy is easy, you just require the talent.
Black winged Stilt by me. Same bird with the dome on. As I have said before taxidermy is easy, you just require the talent.
Another beautiful piece of modern taxidermy. Captive bred Ural Owl with Red Squirrel prey. Recreated in a Rowland Ward style, using an old victorian case. This is a massive bird, the case is around 3 feet tall. Truly a magnificent piece, expertly done.
Captive bred Ural Owl. Truly a magnificent piece, expertly mounted. Hard to undertake such a wonderful recreation.
Copyright
All image use or reproduction by any means from this site is expressly forbidden. Subsequently, the British Historical Taxidermy Society (BHTS), who incidentally pride themselves on their 'integrity' [sic], started taking images from this site and watermarking them as their own. Maybe not the best example on Internet etiquette. Because of this poor behaviour, from now on all images on this site are copyright of the people who provided them un-water nmarked and can only be used with their express permission in their original form.
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